AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

[Sisterlimonpot]

I just found this video reefdudes did showing how to upgrade the actual xr30 light led cluster and you can see how radion added their thermal paste. Does not seem like a lot of thermal paste that radion uses

That's because they're probably using a machine or template to apply the thermal paste to what looks like directly opposite of each LED. I'm sure that's equivalent to spreading it across the whole backside of the LED cluster. It probably saves in thermal paste as well. Especially when you think about doing hundreds of these a day, the savings add up.

 

[OscarHaglund]

I just did my lights and i used quite a lot of paste when doing 5 lights because there is quite a large area to cover and its difficult to press the pices together with the same force as you do with a cpu cooler

 

[bradreef]

I just did my lights and i used quite a lot of paste when doing 5 lights because there is quite a large area to cover and its difficult to press the pices together with the same force as you do with a cpu cooler

Any pictures of this?

 

[VDC]

Problem is, they are not sending a signal to the app, the lighted buttons don't work or respond.

Did you get them working ?

 

[VDC]

I just did my lights and i used quite a lot of paste when doing 5 lights because there is quite a large area to cover and its difficult to press the pices together with the same force as you do with a cpu cooler

Any issues with starting them back up?

 

[OscarHaglund]

Any pictures of this?

The pictures earlier in the thread shows what to do.

 

[OscarHaglund]

Any issues with starting them back up?

No issues. Just be careful with the pins in one of the corners

 

[Dibi]

Does anyone know how to use the A8 with the aquaticlife hybrid fixture? Because, the cable does not fit

 

[RoanokeReef]

Does anyone know how to use the A8 with the aquaticlife hybrid fixture? Because, the cable does not fit

I do,I run mine in one. You have to open it and relocate the power cable to the side.

AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

Correct, the leds are mounted to an aluminum plate which has contact with the heat sink. No thermal compunds what is the acceptable average temperature ? 40c⁰ ?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Dibi]

I do,I run mine in one. You have to open it and relocate the power cable to the side.

AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

Correct, the leds are mounted to an aluminum plate which has contact with the heat sink. No thermal compunds what is the acceptable average temperature ? 40c⁰ ?

www.reef2reef.com

Genius

 

[VDC]

Does anyone know how to use the A8 with the aquaticlife hybrid fixture? Because, the cable does not fit

 

[VDC]

Different from mine ?

 

[RoanokeReef]

Different from mine ?

Yours has the wider brackets and maybe the larger fixtures (I have 36" much more narrow) come with them?

 

[Saltfishlover]

Did you get them working ?

Nope. Just on full.power. I don't know if getting another led board is the solution and I'm leary about testing using a good light

 

[Saltfishlover]

I got this from a aliexpress vendor. Just shows that to do of taking apart.

 

[Bamm69]

Well here is my 6 month review.

I have had the light running on my sps only tank (6 months old) since January of this year. I bought it for $250 USD shipped with a North American power supply. It is as close to a radion as you will ever see. The fans are the same, the lens cover is the same, the housing is near identical with the main difference being the cord runs through the back of this light. The LED count, color and type is the same. I have dissembled my radion G5s to compare components and the only striking difference is the radions run a 10 channel system controlling all colors of leds while the A8 runs 6 and the radion uses Bluetooth connectivity while the A8 uses wifi (will touch more on this).

I currently have the light running beside two g5 XR30 blues and 95% of people would not be able to tell the difference. The color blends perfectly and the par is actually slightly higher than that produced by the radions. The A8 runs a warmer color overall and more closely resembles the pro version of the radion but with minor tweaks in color you can produce the “radion blue” look with very similar par results. With the light set to full intensity I was pushing well over 800 par in the upper parts of the tank. I currently have it set to about 75% blue channels and 20-30% whites and reds and am achieving 600+ par at the top 6” and 150-250 on the bottom 24” down.

Upon first setup I initially struggled with programming the light as it is in Chinese and the English app was not functional at the time. With the help of Google translate and some back and fourth with the supplier I managed to get the Chinese app working while they made improvements to the English app (which is now fully functional). After setup I took the time to create a manual for the light that I provided to the supplier with illustrations on how to program the Chinese app if you only know English. Feel free to reach out and I will provide the document.

As for the connection. I have found it more reliable than the radions Mobius. I have come home many times to my radions being out of schedule, changing times, and only running red/green/individual channels. In all my time with the A8 I only lost connectivity twice. The first time the power went out and the light was running 1h behind schedule until I opened the app and set to current time. The other time the light must have completely lost connectivity and reset to the default 5% on all channels until I reconnected.

Now does it grow coral? Absolutely and oddly enough all my most vivid pieces are underneath the A8.

I have been so impressed with this light that I put my radion G5s up for sale. I figured for the price I sell my G5s for I can purchase about 10 of these lights as they give a discount on 10 units. In all aspects I see that as a win.

I have bought 2 off these and would truly appreciate any help in programming them

 

[Saltfishlover]

I have bought 2 off these and would truly appreciate any help in programming them

Honestly don't try to program the clock to your time. There is a battery inside that some say keeps the setting but I found it was just easier to go.off of the time frame auto programmed in the lights. Other than that it is pretty similar to ai32 app for the spectrum. I dont ramp mine up.or.down. Just set it so 100 par was bottom.of tank and let em.go

 

[Bamm69]

Small positive note…
Since changing from philips coralcare to the a8 my alk uptake has almost doubled. Not everything is because of just the lights.. tank s maturing, frags start growing bases , calcium algues.. but.. they grow coral like mad

would like to get your help programming my a8se

 

[VDC]

Honestly don't try to program the clock to your time. There is a battery inside that some say keeps the setting but I found it was just easier to go.off of the time frame auto programmed in the lights. Other than that it is pretty similar to ai32 app for the spectrum. I dont ramp mine up.or.down. Just set it so 100 par was bottom.of tank and let em.go

what if you have sps at the bottom?

 

[Saltfishlover]

Depending on your tank, these should.have enough par to get to the bottom